by Alissa | Nov 22, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, motherhood, random thoughts
I love to hike. Have you ever noticed, though, that the most beautiful vistas always seem to follow the toughest hikes? I have yet to travel on easy, flat terrain that has led me a short distance to a jaw-dropping view. No, it always comes after effort, often some...
by Alissa | Nov 15, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, educational activities for kids, reading activities for kids, reading with kids, self-improvement, strengthen family
Have you ever heard of the Fourth Grade Slump? I hadn’t–at least I didn’t remember hearing about it before. This phrase was coined by Jeanne S. Chall and Vicki A. Jacobs in their research published in American Educator .It sounds like a horrible...
by Alissa | Nov 8, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, lifehacks, motherhood, random thoughts, self-improvement
As I think more and more about what I do with my time, I realize the importance of habits. Alignment When we align our values with our habits, we will invite peace into our lives. Sure, I can type a bold statement, but what can we do with that to actually achieve it?...
by Alissa | Nov 1, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, motherhood
Before I had kids, I read this great article in a parenting magazine, though now I can’t remember which magazine it was. Anyhow, the author of the article shared all about how she potty-trained her child by spending a few days letting her run around outside with...
by Alissa | Oct 31, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, random thoughts, Writing
I Asked My Mom to Take Me Trick-or-Treating My mother is a scary mummy. Her hair’s spiked like a monster. Dark shadows lurk beneath her eyes. Her nose is a woodpecker’s beak. Each fang’s the shape of candy corns And her claws are like a lion’s. She’s growling like a...
by Alissa | Oct 25, 2017 | activities for kids, Alissa McClure blog, lifehacks, random thoughts, strengthen family
‘Tis the season! (Wait! Don’t stop reading!) Holidays are upon us! From the moment Halloween candy shows up in the aisles of stores, we are bombarded with holiday decorations, candies, and gifts from now until Valentine’s Day! It can get overwhelming and...
by Alissa | Oct 18, 2017 | activities for kids, Alissa McClure blog, motherhood, reading activities for kids, reading with kids, recommendations
I am going to go out on a limb here and assume that every parent reading this wants his/her child to read. We understand that reading is a gateway to education. We want our children to reach for their dreams and achieve greatness and reading is a huge part of that,...
by Alissa | Oct 11, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, lifehacks, motherhood, random thoughts, recommendations, self-improvement
I have been thinking a lot lately about habits and routines. I recently read the book Deep Work by Cal Newport. Though not the main point of his writing, he talks a bit about the value of making good habits. He quotes Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Caro as saying, “I...
by Alissa | Oct 4, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, family finance, random thoughts, recommendations
Over the summer, our bank login was hacked and someone got access to both our checking and savings accounts and drained them all in a matter of minutes. It was such an eerie experience. We were putting our kids to bed when my husband and I both got notifications on...
by Alissa | Sep 27, 2017 | Alissa McClure blog, lifehacks, motherhood, random thoughts
Last month I read an article in REAL SIMPLE by author Janelle Brown. The article is entitled The Escape Plan and she talks about how common it is for people–women in particular–to fantasize about running away or escaping their current lives and living out...
